Listen back to features and interviews from 95bFM's daily news and current affairs show. Joel Armstrong, Castor Chacko, Oto Sequeira, and Caeden Tipler focus on the issues of Tāmaki Makaurau and elsewhere in independent-thinking bFM style. Monday-Thursday 12-1pm on 95bFM.
Christina looks into the recent developments in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. She speaks to Associate Professor Jim Headley from the University of Otago about the political background of the crisis. She also talks to Professor Robert Ayson from Victoria University about Aotearoa's role in de-escalating the situation.
As Aotearoa experiences a record breaking heatwave, scientists involved in the 'Moana Project' have recently launched a marine heatwave forecast system for the country. The Moana project is funded by the Ministry of Business and Employment and is currently providing short range forecasts for up to 7 days of where and when marine heatwaves are likely to occur, for selected coastal sites around New Zealand. Aneeka speaks to Dr. Robert Smith, a lecturer in physical oceanography for the department of Marine Science at the University of Otago and an oceanographer for the Moana Project, about this heatwave and what it means for the country's marine ecosystems.
Today on the Wednesday Wire, Christina Huang hosts for the first time!
Jemima Huston has her weekly chat with the ACT Party's Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden. They talk about teachers being considered essential workers, and international students entering the country.
Christina looks into the recent developments in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. She speaks to Associate Professor Jim Headley from the University of Otago about the political background of the crisis. She also talks to Professor Robert Ayson from Victoria University about Aotearoa's role in de-escalating the situation.
Aneeka speaks to Dr Robert Smith from the university of Otago about the current marine heatwave, and its implications for iwi, a sustainable seafood industry, and research efforts.
And finally, Christina speaks to Dr Alice Mills, a Criminology professor from the University of Auckland, about intimate partner homicide statistics and domestic violence in Australia and New Zealand.
Today on the Tuesday Wire, Jemima Huston speaks to Manukau Ward Councillor Efeso Collins about running for Auckland Mayor in this year's local elections and his campaign policy to make public transport free in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Emily Bell investigates what it is like to rent a house in New Zealand as a univeristy student. She speaks to three students from across the country, Green Party renting spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick, and a spokesperson from Renters United about this ongoing issue.
Finally, Jemima chats to University of Auckland Associate Professor Kerry Gibson to discuss the impact of social media on youth mental health.
The next local election will take place this year on Saturday 8 October. The local elections determine the representatives of each city council, including the Mayor and the elected members of the District Health Boards. News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to Mayoral candidate Efeso Collins about his anouncement that he would bring fares-free public transport to Tāmaki Makaurau if he is voted in as Mayor. They discuss why he is running for Mayor, why free public transport is important and how it could be made possible, and why Aucklanders should get involved by voting or standing in local government elections.
The Green Party is calling for an urgent increase in public housing following a Salvation Army report which described the current situation as a 'catastrophe'. Emilia spoke with Green Party Social Development spokesperson Ricardo Menendez March about this issue.
Currently Russia is moving more forces up to it's border with Ukraine, with Western powers concerned that an invasion may ahppen any day now. Dr Robert Patman of the University of Otago discussed with Charlie the current situation of what's happening at the border and why this is occuring. Dr Nick Smith of the University of Cantebury also spoke on the situation looking at past events and how this military move compares.
This week on the show, producer Charlie speaks to Dr Robert Patman from the University of Otago and Dr Nick Smith from the University of Canterbury about the Russia-Ukraine crisis after Russian military forces have started to place themselves around the Ukraine border.
She also talks to Dr Andrew Chen from the University of Auckland about managing Covid-19 from home following yesterday's record breaking 2522 cases.
On her very first Wire, producer Emilia speaks to the Green Party's Social Development spokesperson, Ricardo Menendez March, about the Green Party's call for an urgent increase in public housing following a report from the Salvation Army that defines the housing crisis as a 'catastrophe'.
Finally, Charlie talks to CEO of Predator Free NZ, Jessi Morgan, and CEO of SAFE NZ, Debra Ashton, about the SPCA's call for cat law reform.
The SPCA is calling for a reform on cat laws. Charlie spoke to Debra Ashton, CEO of SAFE NZ, about how the reofrm could effect our cats for better or worse. Jessi Morgan, CEO of Predator Free NZ, also discussed the issue, focusing on the environmental impacts of the reform and how this could help cat population.
With New Zealand's new Omicron phases strategy the rules around isolation have changed, with people now being able to home-isolate. Dr Andrew Chen from the University of Auckland spoke with Charlie about what you can do to ensure you are prepared for home-isolation.
Last week, the council’s Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) Committee said they would be seeking to implement a number of recommendations that improve emergency readiness for disabled populations.
Following a hui last year where community members were invited to bring forward issues relating to future planning for natural disasters, Sara was interested to hear about how the council is taking suggestions on board.
As well, Auckland Council has been considering proposals to mitigate flood risks around the Wairau catchment, including one which would see the reduction of the size of the Takapuna Golf Course, to convert the space into a flood catchment.
Producer Sara spoke to Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson on both of these topics, firstly by asking him to discuss the desired outcomes relating to emergency preparedness for disabled people, and the council’s first steps to implementation
Zohran Mamdani has all but won the Democratic Primary in New York City after key competitor Andrew Cuomo conceded the race.
Mamdani will now be the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor.
His campaign was built on cost-of-living, where Mamdani presented himself as an authentic, Democratic Socialist, grassroots campaign leader.
Wire Host Caeden spoke to 95bFM reporter and South Asia correspondent Sanat Singh about Momdani’s win, what this means for the communities he represents, and where to from here.
A reported 131,000 submissions were made on the Regulatory Standards Bill.
The Bill, proposed by the ACT party, includes a set of principles outlining “responsible regulation.” Notably, it does not include any mention of either version of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Last weekend, hundreds of Destiny Church members marched on Queen Street in a rally that they called “in defence of faith, flag, and family.”
And the Labour Party has criticised the framing of a poll question by the Taxpayers Union/Curia on whether or not Cook Islanders should retain automatic New Zealand citizenship.
For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden asked Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni about all of these topics.
Recently the Green Party commissioned independent legal advice to look into the government’s $200 million investment in new gas fields that was carried out last month and found out that the investment was in breach of the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS).
NZ First MP Shane Jones recently announced that he’d be drafting a member's bill to force Ngāpuhi into a single commercial settlement, which would prevent hapū from negotiating separate commercial redresses and remove any reference to hapū sovereignty from the settlement terms.
And the Green party recently issued a call to the New Zealand government to condemn the US strikes on Iranian Nuclear facilities, almost a week after Iran and Israel had both been trading missile strikes between each other.
For our weekly catchup with the Green Party, Oto spoke with MP Hūhana Lyndon to get the party’s take on all of these issues
Last week, Statistics Minister Shane Reti announced plans to scrap the nationwide census moving forward. The census is the largest statistical survey done in Aotearoa, and provides the bulk of population data used in research and decision-making. Reti says the census is “no longer financially viable” and will be replaced with a combination of smaller annual surveys and administrative data.
While the change looks good on paper, there are concerns around how the change in data collection could affect representation of marginalised and minority groups. Census data tends to be more protected from bias than administrative data and smaller surveys, meaning there are more opportunities for misrepresentation. Some statisticians are particularly concerned about the potential exclusion of marginalised rural communities.
In our weekly catchup with the National Party’s Tom Rutherford, Wire host Castor asked him about the census decision and its implications on marginalised and minority groups.
Associate Health Minister, David Seymour, has recently announced changes to Psilocybin and Melatonin availability.
Psilocybin, the compound found in magic mushrooms, will be available for certain patients suffering from poor mental health outcomes. Melatonin, which is used for insomnia and jetlag, is set to be available over the counter.
For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party’s Simon Court, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to him about this move, and the potential accessibility concerns with accessing these medications.
They also discussed taxpayers set to be funding newly-funded cancer medicines for private facilities.
Finally, they discuss opposition parties criticised Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, over a lack of transparency regarding the effectiveness of boot camps for youth offenders, especially as boot camps have received a boost of $30 million, despite the pilot programme still being ongoing.
But first, they discussed Psilocybin and Melatonin.
Last Saturday, over 2,000 protests took place across all 50 American States against President Donald Trump.
The protests coincided with Trump’s birthday and the 250th anniversary of the US Army, and they served as a direct response to the military parade in Washington, DC.
The organisers of the protests say they aimed to reject “authoritarianism, billionaire-first politics, and the militarisation of our democracy.”
Wire Host Caeden spoke to Jeremy Pressman, Professor of Political Science at the University of Connecticut about the protests and the backlash towards them from the Trump administration.
Housing intensification is a key priority for Auckland Council as Auckland's population is forecast to reach 2.3 million by 2050.
But as planning for growth continues, some Auckland residents have expressed concern about the approval of developments in areas on flood plains or particularly prone to natural disasters.
With Kāinga Ora selling homes as ‘high risk investments’ in areas which were impacted by flooding in recent years, and 15 percent of all granted consents for new builds by Auckland Council being on floodplains, I spoke to Councillor Julie Fairey about how the council is taking into account these issues for the coming years.
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